A COALITION of 17 media and civil society organisations has condemned the remand of investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, describing his prosecution as an attack on press freedom and democratic accountability.
Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was arraigned on a 12-count charge over reports published in 2023 and 2024, questioning expenditure by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
The charges arose from investigative reports published by FIJ in 2023 and January 2024, which questioned payments of ₦147.1 million and ₦47.5 million for classroom construction projects and the reported failure of solar panels installed at some of the projects shortly after their completion.
The Federal High Court ordered his remand until December 1, 2026, when his bail application is scheduled to be heard.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, November 12, the organisations expressed concern over the court’s decision, noting that Ojukwu had pleaded not guilty to all the charges and that his lawyer informed the court that he had complied with the conditions of his earlier administrative bail.
The statement was signed by 17 organisations, including BudgIT, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Enough is Enough Nigeria, Media Rights Agenda, International Press Centre, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Accountability Lab Nigeria and WikkiTimes.
The coalition said the court’s refusal to allow him to remain on the existing bail pending the hearing of his application raised serious concerns about the use of criminal prosecution against journalists carrying out legitimate investigative work.
They described these as legitimate matters of public interest that required transparency and explanations from public officials responsible for managing public resources.
They argued that inaccurate or defamatory reports should be addressed through lawful avenues of redress rather than intimidation, detention or criminal prosecution.
The media groups and civil society organisations also recalled that Ojukwu was arrested and detained for 10 days in May 2024 over the same reporting before his release following public outcry.
the coalition further warned that his renewed prosecution could create a climate of fear among investigative journalists and discourage scrutiny of public institutions.
Citing Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, the organisations said the media had a responsibility to hold the government accountable, while freedom of expression remained constitutionally protected.
They also referenced Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The coalition called for Ojukwu’s immediate release and bail pending the determination of the charges. They also demanded an end to the use of the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation provisions to suppress independent journalism and public-interest reporting.
The groups further urged the government to address the questions raised by FIJ’s investigations through the disclosure of relevant records, independent scrutiny and appropriate accountability mechanisms.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M